Noticias

​Discussion on the 3rd cycle: a roadmap for engagement

01/12/2016

On Thursday 10th November, UPR Info hosted the event, Ensuring sustainable implementation at the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) in Room XX of the Palais des Nations. Over sixty Permanent Missions and approximately 150 people attended the event co-sponsored by the Permanent Missions of Switzerland, Costa Rica, Morocco, and the United Kingdom. The event was also an opportunity to launch the newest UPR Info’s publication, “The Butterfly Effect: Spreading Good Practices of UPR implementation”.

The panel discussed the strengths and weaknesses of the UPR’s two first cycles as well as the challenges for the third cycle. Below are some of the highlights of the outcomes. The complete list of ideas shared during the discussion can be found here.

Strengths

The UPR has led to transparent dialogue between States and the common documents, upon which the reviews are based, ensure the equal treatment of States through the mechanism;

The UPR has legitimised CSOs and NHRIs as genuine stakeholders of the mechanism, not solely during the compilation of reports but as equal partners in implementation and monitoring;

Weaknesses

The lack of effective follow-up and reporting mechanisms at the UN leads to ineffective implementation;

There is a lack of accountability for non-cooperation and non-implementation and there is no process in place for situations of human rights regression;

Next steps to ensure sustainable implementation in the UPR 3rd cycle

Voluntary reporting, at mid-term, should be increasingly used;

Reporting should take into account previous recommendations;

An implementation fund for CSOs could be developed, as they must be seen as partners to governments, in implementation.